View synonyms for hardtack

hardtack

[ hahrd-tak ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a hard, hard, saltless biscuit, formerly much used aboard ships and for army rations.

hardtack

/ ˈhɑːdˌtæk /

a kind of hard saltless biscuit, formerly eaten esp by sailors as a staple aboard ship Also calledpilot biscuitship's biscuitsea biscuit

First recorded in 1830–40; hard + tack ²

A small keg, or breaker, was thrown overboard and picked up, with a bag of fifteen or twenty pounds of hardtack.

"It might be," said Shorty, with visions of distributing hardtack to the hungry boys warping his judgment.

Just then Jacks came to the opening of the notch, and set down a tin cup of coffee and a plate of soaked hardtack and fried bacon.

"We give both hands full—coffee, sugar, hardtack," and Bruce illustrated as he spoke.

In ten minutes, with coffee, sugar and hardtack in their hands, the sergeant and his comrades were back at the front.

Browse